A MEMBER of the tourism industry has urged the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) to waive its recently increased day visitor fees with immediate effect.
Peter Pack of Pack Safari cc said yesterday that a recent media statement by the NWR on new fees at its establishments was “not very fair”. Pack said while the NWR had increased its fees, most of its establishments were not interested in providing good service to clients.He noted that the NWR had sent out one warning on a price increase – in October.However, tour operators had printed more than one million copies of 100 different brochures and catalogues in June already.Negotiations on prices for the printed catalogue tours were carried out in 2002 and the catalogues could not be changed and the rates were binding.”Neither the overseas operator nor the guest will pay this unjustified day visitor fee, but the local Namibian tour operator will have to. For the leading operators this will accumulate to a million Namibia dollars per year,” Pack said.Pack said most NWR establishments were “far below standard” and provided photographic evidence to The Namibian to back up his claims.”Guests are not visiting Hobas or Okaukeujo. They want to see the Fish River Canyon, the animals in Etosha and the pan itself. For this they pay the Ministry of Environment and Tourism an entrance fee … Then the possibility of usage of NWR services and-or facilities is given and the day visitor fees are charged, but still the service is not rendered,” Pack said.Pack said while the NWR had increased its fees, most of its establishments were not interested in providing good service to clients. He noted that the NWR had sent out one warning on a price increase – in October. However, tour operators had printed more than one million copies of 100 different brochures and catalogues in June already. Negotiations on prices for the printed catalogue tours were carried out in 2002 and the catalogues could not be changed and the rates were binding. “Neither the overseas operator nor the guest will pay this unjustified day visitor fee, but the local Namibian tour operator will have to. For the leading operators this will accumulate to a million Namibia dollars per year,” Pack said. Pack said most NWR establishments were “far below standard” and provided photographic evidence to The Namibian to back up his claims. “Guests are not visiting Hobas or Okaukeujo. They want to see the Fish River Canyon, the animals in Etosha and the pan itself. For this they pay the Ministry of Environment and Tourism an entrance fee … Then the possibility of usage of NWR services and-or facilities is given and the day visitor fees are charged, but still the service is not rendered,” Pack said.
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